I hope you, my gentle readers, had a happy and safe 4th of July.  The weather was great with not a cloud in the sky.  Did you attend any of the events mentioned in this blog on the holiday?  The Empire Outlets was hopping with entertainment during their Three-Day Block Party and was a perfect venue to chill out, enjoy the sights, sounds and shop!  The 109th Travis 4th of July Parade was a successful event as well as the 91st Annual Huck Finn Fishing Tournament & Costume Contest at the Zimmer Club and the Historic Richmond Town Independence Day Celebration. 

The Reading of the Declaration of Independence, sponsored by Staten Island OutLOUD and Beth Gorrie, took place in the shade at Fort Wadsworth, and all guests participated.  It was emotional reading…

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The 11th Annual Polish Festival, organized by St. Stanislaus Kostka church, took place on Sunday at Snug Harbor Cultural Center.  We enjoyed sun, low humidity and a healthy breeze every once in awhile.  I thank all of you who visited the Gillani Homes booth and those who took a chance on the Lottery Ticket House!  A big thanks to those of you who signed up for the "Weekend Events on Staten Island" blog mailing list.  The kiddies were thrilled with the blow up rides, checking out the NYPD car (and siren!!), winning at games of chance, while all enjoyed live music, the Polish dancers, wonderful raffle drawings and basket prizes, scrumptious Polish food—stuffed cabbage, kielbasy and fixings, meat and cheese pierogi, zapiekanka, desserts galore and Polish…

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I joined my grandkiddies at the Summer Reading Kick-Off: The Universe on Wednesday at 4 at the Tottenville Library which was decorated with everything “Universe”.  Even the fabulous Library staff  were sporting Martian ears!

Entertainment was provided by an animated musician from Rockness Music who drew the children into the performance by singing about space, robots and Martians--they laughed, sang, danced, jumped up and down and enjoyed an afternoon that ended with giveaways and popsicles. The children had lots of fun as evidenced by the photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday was the most relaxing afternoon I have had in a long time at the Annual White Party Fundraiser hosted by the Friends of Seguine Mansion and…

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The Annual Conference on Aging last Friday at the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC was informative and helpful.  Sessions on physical, emotional, creative, cognitive and long-term wellness, as well as sessions aimed to combat memory loss and even tap dancing, were held. Free hearing, vision and BMI screenings were performed by medical professionals. We enjoyed a healthy lunch with the chorus and the band entertaining the crowd.

Did you display your American flag on Flag Day?  In my travels throughout the Island, I noticed that of the flags displayed a third of them were in poor condition and should be retired. To learn of the correct way to display your flag and to properly retire the flag, visit http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html The…

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Did you “Pick up a book and read!” this week? My readers responded with their thoughts about recent books they had read.

My Gentle Reader Diane wrote: “Funny you should ask... I just finished “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” by Lisa See. Through the book, I traveled to China in the 1820’s where I met Lily and followed her life into her old age as Lady Lu. I learned sadly about foot-binding, the joys and sorrows of female friendships and of nu-shu, which is the secret-code writing, developed thousands of years ago and used by women in a remote area of southern Hunan Province. I highly recommend this book!”

My Gentle Reader Mark shared: “I read a book recently called “Miracle of the Bells” by Russell Janney published in 1946. The Story involves a…

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Check out my new listing in Annadale—162 McArthur Avenue!

 

This immaculate, well-kept one-family semi-attached 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on a quiet street in Annadale, features an eat-in kitchen with granite countertops, hardwood floors throughout, recessed lighting, Andersen windows, with sliding glass door leading to an enclosed all-season room off of the kitchen, gas line with grill, new rain sensor sprinkler system, pull down stairs to attic for storage. Great for entertaining!                           

The First level is the foyer with a few steps up to a Living Room, Dining Room combination, Eat-In Kitchen, leading to an all- season room with gas line grill outside with egress to the beautifully manicured huge yard.

 

 

 

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Did you attend the Staten Island New Teacher Job Fair at Petrides, Wine Tasting at Honor Wines at their new location at 104 Beach St., the Third Annual Greenbelt Outdoor Adventure Day at Willowbrook Park, Historian Pat Salmon’s talk and discussion about the history of The Oystermen of Captain's Row at The Noble Maritime Collection or the 52nd Annual Art Exhibit, presented by The South Shore Artist Group at Conference House Park or the Victory Boulevard Merchants Association’s Annual Restaurant and Merchant Stroll?   So many things to do but so little time… I often say that, never the opposite--“I’m bored”. If we ever dared to utter those words, my parents would tell us, “Pick up a book and read!” Life can be exciting as you visit other places, other…

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I’m going to share a secret about my family. . .We are diehard fans of Fleet Week! From childhood, before it was called “Fleet Week”, ships would dock on Staten Island and Dad would strengthen our weak little legs enough (with hard work around the house! Lol!) to climb up and down those ladders and through the ship without tripping, slipping or complaining. It was an exciting experience for us, and every year, without a miss, we would wait on lines to tour the ships. Since then, our family would venture to Ft. Wadsworth and wait for the Parade of Ships. Usually, it  would take a couple or more hours before the first one would come under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The kiddies would run around playing with the other kiddies as photographers would take…

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How many of you actually know the meaning of Memorial Day? It is a federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered. The holiday, which is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national and local cemeteries.

When I was a child, Memorial Day meant attending the parade on Forest Ave. and having a BBQ in…

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The Grand Opening Event at the Empire Outlets NYC took place on Wednesday evening. Crowds of people lined up for an evening of entertainment, dancing, giveaways, food trucks, shopping and a camaraderie that I haven’t seen in a long time. The waterfront views of Manhattan were spectacular. The open spaces invite one to sit and enjoy the music, the sights and sounds, people watching and chatting. You can take a bus or the S.I.R.T. to the ferry to easily check out the new shopping venue or park in the nearby enclosed garages at the ferry, the Outlets site or on St. Mark’s Pl. at the Courthouse. Following are some photos from the opening night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Elissa, my gentle reader, for…

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